Rotary pump and motor



,'April `5, 1927. 1,623,924

C. H. KAIN ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR Filed Julyz. V1924 4 sheets-sheet 1 f 55 l l v i- :Y 5 i x dnne( April 5 1927. 1,623,924

C. H.l KAIN ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR Filed July 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2April 5,1927. 1,623,924

C. H. KAIN ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR Filed July 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,flian-if) Wala f 311m: nto/If ff ff @Unweit 1927. April 5 c. H. KAINROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A FiledJuly2, 1924 Patented Apr.5, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD HASTY KAIN, 0F SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA.-

ROTARY `:PUMP AND MOTOR.

Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to rotary motors and particularly to that type ofconverter in which rotation of a. shaft is produced by means ofreciprocatory plungers working within cylinders, the latter beingtangential to a circle concentric with Ythe axis of vthe rotating shaft.

One of the objects'of the invention is the -provision of an improvedrotor adaptable in its application to all uses of engines, motors, andpumps which are actuated mechanically or operated as mechanic-al con`verters.

A more specific object of the invention is the construction of a rotorcarrying plungers which reciprocate in cylinders in paths tangential toa circle concentric with the aXis of rotation vof the rotor, whereby themaximum mechanical advantage is1 secured throughout the entire workingstrokes of the plungers, this being in favorable contrast with thestationary type of reciprocatory pumps and enginesV in which maxi mummechanical advantage is approached only at one point, about midway ofthe piston travel. 4

Still another object' of the invention is to construct the rotary motorwith the tangentially arranged plungers as aforesaid, the movements ofsaid plungers being controlled by a control ring or'equivalent memberformed with a guiding curvature so designed that the plungers, in allpositions of the rotor, react normally against said f ring, avoidingvnegative tangential components Which, in the aggregate, would detractmaterially from the force of the power stroke.

VVith-a rotary motor built according to the present invention it istheoretically possible, neglecting friction, to obtain a mechanicalefficiency of 100%. i

In its broadest, and perhaps, most' important aspect the inventioncontemplates the construction of a one-stage rotor t-he detail featuresof which may be varied to suit the exigencies of use. But in certainapplications of the invention it may be built in twostage. units,reversely arranged. In this form, the applied power is divided betweenthe two units, the working strokes of which take place throughsuccessive arcs of 180,

1924. sum1 No. 723,807.

the, mechanical efficiency throughout each working stroke (neglectingfriction) being sustained at substantially 100 per cent, so that notonly is thereA no loss of head in the impelling fluid due to thenegative components above referred to, but an evenness of torque isproduced, both of these factors particularly adapting the motor to useas a rotor for fluid meters where maintenance, in so far as possible` ofa 'uniform and unimpeded head of the impelling fluid is desired.

Summarizing the objects of the invention, they may be briefly classifiedas pumping actions, involving necessary suction and dischargeconnections and Lenergy converting actions, with the necessary inlet andoutlet connect-ions.' All other actions such as metering, compressing,power transmission and braking, are modifications' of one or the other,or both of the principal objects involved.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single stage deviceembodying the principles of my invention. Y

' Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation viewed from the right-hand side of Figurel, the rotor being removed.

Figure 4 is a plan viewv of one of the connecting plates.

Figures 5, 6- and 7 are respectively plan, section and end elevationalviews of the core or valve member.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a two-stage rotor.

Figure 9 is a sectionV taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figures 10,' 11 and 12 are elevational views of the core or valvemembertaken in three perpendicular planes. v

Referringnow in detail to the several figures, andiirst adverting tothat form of the invention which is embodied in the structure shown inthe first seven figures, the numeral 1 represents 'a stationary framewhich may be Yof any desiredV form and construction and which affords asupport o n one side for the bearing 2'which carries the drive shaft 3,the latter being fixed in any suitable manner 'to the rotary part of themechanism. A hub l passes through the opposite side of the trameco-aXial with the drive shaft 3, said hub affording a bearing surfacefor the rotor and also cooperating with the latter in performing thetunctions of an inlet and a discharge valve. The hub formed with atapered `tace 5 which makes .free running' contact with a complementary`tace 6 of the rotor, the iointvbctween said 'faces being practicallytluidtight. The rotor includes the cylinder block 7 havingr Cylinderbores 8 the axis ot said bores being tangential to a circle concentricwith the aXis ot the drive shaft. The hub is formed With ports 9 openingin the tapered tace thereof in the path of travel of the cylinder bores,said ports opening on opposite sides ot the hub and being connectedrespectively with inlet and outlet channels 10 and 11, said Channelspreferably leadingr to that portion of the hub which lies external tothe frame and beine there connected to inlet and outlet conduits 12 andl2. As the cylinder block rotates the cylinder bores registersuccessively with Vthe inlet and outlet ports permitting the seouentialfilling and discharge ot the cylinders.

rllhe plunrrers 14 are arranged to reciprocate Within said cylinders.said plungers in t-hepresent instance being' constructed as hollowmembers surroundinsr quidina tubes l5. The latter are nivotallv carriedby transverse bars 16` said bars being fixed at their opposite ends tothe plates 17 and 18 which are carried at the sides of the cvlinderblock and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The lQruidinfr tubesl5 preterahlv extend a slieht distance Within the cylinder bores as hereshown.

The plungers 14 are each provided With onnositelv disposed transversepins l-l recinrocably movable in the slots Q0 with vf'hich the sideplates 177 and 18 are provided. The ends ot said pin are nivotallymounted in bearing-apertures Q1 formed in the outer ends of theconnecting plates 22. The latter are formed with circular apertures 23the peripheral Walls ot which bear upon eccentric rinus Q4. fixed instationary relation at opposite sides ot the frame l. The ringgs 24C aree^centric respectively to the common axis of the drive sha-Ft 3 and hub4. so that when the cylinder block rotates around the aXis of the driveshaft1 the planners at the same time Will bevrotated about the center ofthe eccentric ring. a reciprocating' movement being given thereby tosaid plunvzers, Within the cylinder bores. Y Appropriate packing may beprovided l'ictn'een the plunger and cylinder Wall, adiacent the outerend oi each cylinder and held in place by means of the packing Igland26.

It is'apparent trom the above construction that` whether operated as apump or motor, the cylinders and plungers are so arranged that theWorking' stroke acts in a direction tangentially of the path ot thecrank arm throughout the entire range of the ivm-king' stroke, the crankarm'beintr thel radius of the circle to which the axes ot the cylinderbores are tangent. This is the most advantageous arrangement tor thcdcvelopment ot' high eiliciency since the turninger moment is equal tothe product of the i' force applied perpendicularly to the crank armmultiplied by the length ot the crank arm. In the ordinary reciprocatorymotor or pump the position of tangencv ot' the plunger With relation tothe path ot the crank arm is only realized at one point in the range ofthe stroke of the plunger, about mid-Way of the range of travel ot theplunger. Y

It is obvious in the present structural arrangement that the powerWithin the c; .inders reacts against the plungers, and through themagainst the eccentric rings, th etorc it is readily seen, that it theplungers are, so connected to the eccentric rines that thev line ofpressure acting through the planners is practically normal to theeccentric rings in all positions ot the plunger, the entire pressure ofthe plungers acting` against the Walls ot the cylinder bores may beexert-ed against the outer end ot the crank arm, civing maximumetliciency. But it the line ot pressure acting; through the plungers isnot substantially normal to the eccentric rings the torce ot saidplanners will be resolved into components, one ot which is tangential tothe eccentric rings and the other of which is expended in rotatingv thecylinder block. It thus becomes a very material and important part ofthe invention to have the Veccentric rings ot' such shape and size thatthe plungers Will be normal to them in all positions, particularly onthe Working strokes of said plungers. i Y

In order to'determine the size ofthe control rings it becomes necessary,first to accurately plot the curvature ot' the theoretical curve orspiral Which is the locus ot all points of tangency to Which the axes otthe plungers are normal in the several angular positions of saidplunger. In plottingv this curve the tollonfing'equation has beendeveloped in which a predetermined length et stroke has beenassumed asbeing a times the length R ot' the crank arm. lf'Vith the plunger at theextreme end oi the iii-stroke the point on the eccentric ring which islocated at the'shortest distance from the aXis ot' rotation ot thecylinder .block will be taken as the initial point 0 or origin. Thedistance from O to the point ot tangency T on the circular path ot theouter end ot the crank arm Will be the constant C, and must also be otsuiiicient length to accommodate the length ot stroke rie (w inultipliedby R). Then any position along the control spiral can be plotted bysolving the equation y FRA 2 ,2 11 i l;

in which* L the length oi a line from the axis of rotation of thecylinder block to the'required point on the control spiral.

A z the angle between the position of the crank arm in the originalposition of the plunger When the outer end thereofis at O, and theposition of said crank arm when the plunger is in any other position,When the angle A is less than l800.

This equation applies either Way through 180Q of arc from the initialpoint of ori gin t 77 It will be found by solving this equation that thecenter lines of the cylinders Will always be normal to the controlspiral through 180 arc of operation, and the movement of the plungersWill be uniform for any equal number of degrees of are of travel of theouter end of the crank arm.

The control spiral, plotted for an entire revolution of the cylinderblock has the form of a heart-shaped curve which is incidentally shownin figure 8, having the two lobes a and o intersecting at the points cand Z Which may be termed neutral points since they occur respectivelyat the inner and outer limits of the range of travel of the plungers atwhich points there is practically no movement of the plungers, A curveof this shape is purely theoretical, however, and a circular controlring will probably have to be chosen for practical operativeness, .sothat the ideal control ring is that circle which most closely coincidesWith the theoretical control spiral, the latter being shown in heavydotted lines in Figure 8. It will be noted that the greater variationsof the circle and spiral are at points which I have indicated neutralarcs, adjacent the neutral points c an( d. By the adoption of the circleas a control practically the saine augularity of the cylinders relativeto this circle is maintained as in the case of the spiral except in theneutral arcs. This fact, coupled With the fact that there is practicallyno movement of the pistons as they travel through the neutral arc is anadvantage in that these. are, the periods when the inlet and outletports are closed by the divisional Walls of the bulb, and as the pistonmovement is Zero there is no compression or vacuum form in the cylindersduring thisperiod of operation.

For the purpose of enabling the rotor to start Without load it may beadvantageous to provide means for shifting the axis of the eccentricring relative to the axis of rotation of the cylinder block. One Way ofcarrying out this feature is to provide the sides of the frame l withparallel slots 27 so arranged as to receive the stud bolts 28 whichproject, preferably at equal intervals from the outv side face of theeccentric rings. The eccen- .ric ring isp-also provided n'ilh a stein 99extending through an aperture in the end of the frame and beingadvancedand retracted by means of the shi ft nut 80. The range of movement ofthe` eccentric ring afforded by the length of the slots 27 and of theshift nut is such that the axis of the eccentric ring and cylinder blockcan be made to coincide. lVhen said aXes'are in coincidence there is noreciprocatory movement of the plunger-s and the load'on the pump erconverter is nil.

By screwing the shift nut an appropriate distance in either directionthe length of stroke of the plungers may be regulated, determining thecapacity of the rotor. Nutsx 31 upon the stud bolts 28 are adapted to betightened against the side of the frame to hold the eccentric ring inany position of adjustment. It is of course to be understood that themeans here shown and described, for accomplishing the shifting of theeccentric ring is merely illustrative of other means which may beemployed for accomplishing a like result.

While the one stage pump vor converter, as above described is probablythe preferred and most universal adaptation of the invention, there aresome cases, especially ivnere it is desired to discharge against backpressure to avoid loss of head, or in the design of a compound steamengine, preferable to use two or more stages, substantially identicaliviththe single stage converter, and coupled together in cooperativerelation.

A two stage motor, the object of which is the avoidance of loss of head,is shown in Eigures 8 to 12in which the hollow hub 35 is formed With aported enlargement 3G about Which the two stages of the rotor aregrouped in the manner now about to be described, The hub 35 is fixed inany suitable manner to theframe the latter being formed in part of theplates 37 and 3S which carry the respective eccentric rings 39 and l()rlhe enlarged intermediate portion of said hub is preferably sphericalin contour` forrning a valve surface closely embraced by the cylinderblocks 41 and 42, said blocks being formed with complementary sphericalfaces and being held in position by means of end thrust-bearings s3. Thecylinder blocks in this instance` may be similar to the cylinder blocksdescribed in the one stage embodiment of the inventioinexcept they havebeen necessarily modified to suit the cooperating structure. 'ln thepresent instance four cylinders, 4,4, are shown for each stage, saidcylinders being arranged with their axes tangential to a circle theradius of Which represents the crank arm of the rotor.

Plungers 45 reciprocate in said cylinders, said plungers being providedwith pins L16 projectingl from the outer sides thereof and through slots4l? in the cylinder walls. Connecting plates e8 are ournalled at theirouter ends upon the pins 46 said connecting plates, in the presentillustrativo embodiment of thc invention being individual to thecylinders.

Said connecting platesare apertured in the same manner as the connectingplate illustrated in'Figure el, the connecting plates for each stage cfcylinders ben journalled upon the respective eccentric control rings 89and el() by means of the roller or other appropriate bea frs e9. rEheexternal diameter of the er entric control rir is that of the circlewhich most nearly coincides with the heart-shaped spiral a, shown inFigure 8.

Packing means 50 which preferably somewhat yielding in character isinserted between the cylinder blocks ll and 4t2 nj acent theintermediate enlargement upon the hub 85, and the cylinders of therespective stages are connected at their outer ends by connections 5lthrough which power/is transmitted from the driving stage to the crivenstage. These connections may be semi-flexible in nature, and,cooperating with the packing 50 permit of nice adji ent of the cylinderblocks with respect tothe spherical enlargement of the hub. Saidadjustment is effected by screv-.f'ing up the end-thrust bearings 4:3.

rlhe hub 35 is bored from either end t0- ward the center, a partitionwall 52 separating the bores. The bere on one side forms an inletpassage 58, that on the other side an outlet passage 5l, said passagesopening in the surface of the spherical enlargement as inlet and outletports 55 and 56 respectively. The inlet port 55 serves the stage ofcylinders constituted by the cylinder block l1 and the outlet port 56serves that stage of cylinders included in the cylinder block 42. rlhecentral enlargement is also provided with a port 57 serving as an out--let for the cylinder block il said port being connected by a passage 58with a port 59 the latter comprising an inlet for the cylinder block 42.It will readily be appreciated from what has been described that thecourse of fluid entering by the port 55 will lead through the cylindersassociated with the cylinder block 4:1 and then, by way of the passage58 through the cylinders of the cylinder block 42 the final dischargeheilig by way of the outlet port 56 and the bore 54. lt will be observedfrom Figure 8 that the cylinders of each block are oppositely arranged,and that the two-phase rotor is eX- actly reversible so that, ifdesired, the bore designated as the outlet in this description may inpractice be the inlet.

Referring now more in detail to the pasother than friction.

sage of fluid under pressure into the rotor by way of the port 53, sothat the rotor is functioning as a motor, the actuating medium entersone of the cylinders of the first or driving stage, said cylinder beingdesignated by the reference character m in Figure 8 said fluid forcingthe plunger of said cylinder outwardly, substantially normal to theeccentric control ring, and re-acting against the cylinder blocktangentially of the circle representing the path of its crank arm,rotating the cylinder block clockwise and thereby at the same timecausing the outward movement of the plunger in the cylinder. Saidplunger continues its outward movement until'it reaches the neutralpoint CZ, which position is shown with reference to the'plunger of thecylinder n` in Figure 8. When the cylinder m reaches this positiontheinlet port is cut off from the cylinder by the divisional wall withinthe enlargement of the hub. ris rotation continues the cylinder opens tothe outlet port 57, the plunger at the same time moving inwardly alongthe control ring and discharging the contents of the cylinder through tle outlet port 57, through the passage 58 into the inlet port 59 of thesecond or driven stage, with which port a cylinder in the second ordriven stage is in communica-tion. During the rotation of the cylinder mfrom the lower neutral arc to the higher one, the plunger is returnedinto the cylinder by the connecting plate, but as the piston in thecommunicating cylinder of the second stage recedes in its cylinder atequal velocity there is practically no compression in either cylinder,therefore the passage of the actuating medium from the iii-st to secondstage isV accomplished with very little pumping eifect and withpractically no loss in etliciency It will be not-ed that the two stagesoperate as one unit, at the same speed and held in the same relativepositions by means of the connections 51 or V,other convenient meanswhich permit of the adjustment of the intervening space. While in theillustration but one cylinder of each stage is shown communicating withthe bypass at the same time the operation of the motor is not aifectedshould a plurality of cylinders of the respective stages be concurrentlyin communication.

In the second or driven stage the cylinders are placed tangent to thesame sized control ring as in the first stage, but pointed in theopposite direction. Now as a cylinder of the second stage rotatesclockwise from the upper neutral arc, the plunger moves outwardly in thecylinder, the actuating medium following thedisplaced space in thecylinder until the cylinder reaches the main neutral arc where the inletport is closed. It will be observed that as the cylinders rotateclockwise from the lower neutral are to the upper neutral arc theyremain on radial lines, and therefore normal to the control circlethrough practically the entire 180. From the lower neutral arc to theupper neutral arc the plunger is moved inwardly, which in turndischarges the actuated medium outwardly through the port 56. Theoperation above described accomplishes the following functions insequence; the energy in the actuating medium is transmitted to theV irstor driving stage, carried to the second stage by direct communicationthrough the by-pass and discharged from the second stage with no loss ofenergy eX- cept such as is absorbed in friction.

Any convenient means may be provided for transmitting power, or whatamounts to the same thing, motion, from either stage of the rotor to anydevice designed to be driven. Said means are exemplified in the presentinvention in the form of a gear attached in any suitable manner to thecylinder block 4t2 and meshing with a gear 60 on a stub shaft 6l mountedin a bearing in the plate 38 and extending to a point without the frameof the motor at which point it carries a gear 62 adapted to be suitablyconnected to the driven mechanism. lt is obvious that a two stage rotorof the class described is especially adapted to the direct measurementof the liow of liquids without materially affecting the head or pressureof said liquid. While other means may be adopted for constituting thevalved relation between the hub 35 and cylinder blocks l have found thatthe spherical shaped bar has two distinct advantages over other forms ofbearing, first the contact of the revolving cylinders is maintained veryuniform throughout the contact area, due to the fact that fluctation 'ofthe trueplaiie of rotation does not open the Contact on one side andbind on the other; secondly, any tendency of the revolving parts todrift along the axis of rotation is taken up by the normal contact nearthe shaftbefore any binding ei'lect is produced at other points ofcontact.

l consider that my invention, resides promarily in the broad aspectshereinbefore set forth, and only secondarily in the details ofconstruction and arrangement, whereupon I do not restrict myself to theparticular construction here disclosed, but only by the terms of theclaims and the state of the prior art.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters l atent, is

l. A rotor comprising one or more cylinders having the longitudinal axesthereof arranged tangential to a circle concentric with the axis ofrotation of the rotor,a relatively lixed eccentrically mounted guidering,

and plungers within said cylindersre-acting against said guide ring inlines f force which are substantially radial to said guide ringthroughout the working stroke of said plungers. n

2. two stage rotary inotor comprising a roter cnsi'sting of a pair ofcylinder blocks each including oiie or more cylinders having thelongitudinal axes thereof directed tangential to a circle concentricwith the axis of rotation of the rotor, the cylinders of the respectiveblocks being reversely arranged with respect to one another, plungers insaid cylinders, eccenti'ically mounted guide rings against which saidplungers re-act in causing relative reciprocation between said plungersand cylinders, means for admitting fluid to the cylinders of one blockand discharging it from the cylinders of the other, the cylinders of oneblock when on the inward stroke being in communication with thecylinders of the other block which are at the saine time on thecomplementary phases of the outward stroke.

3. A two stage rotary motor comprising a rotor consisting of a pair ofcylinder` blocks each including one or more cylinders having thelongitudinal axes thereof directed tangentially to a circle concentricwith the axis of rotation of the rotor, the cylinders of the respective.blocks being reversely arranged with respect to one another, plungers insaid cylinders, eccentrically mounted guide rings one to each cylinderblock, the

plungers of each cylinder block re-acting against the guidewayassociated with that block, guide rings in lines of force substantiallyradial to the guide ring throughout the working stroke of said plungers,means Afor admitting fluid to the cylinders of one block and dischargingit from the cylinders of the other, the cylinders of one block when onthe inward stroke being in communication with the cylinders of the otherblock which are at the saine time on the complementary phases of theoutward stroke.

el. A rotary motor comprising a frame, a hub lixedly carried by saidframe, said hub being formed with a portion having spherical curvature,said hub being provided with inlet and outlet passages opening into thesui-face of said spherical portion forming inlet and outlet ports, arotor rotatably mounted upon said hub including a pair of connectedcylinder blocks and having cooperating spherical faces embracing thespherical portion of the hub and seated thereupon, each cylinder blockincluding one or more cylinders having the longitudinal axes thereofdirected tangentially to a circle concentric to the axis of rotation ofthe rotor, the cylinders of the respective blocks being reverselyarranged with respect to one another and opening upon said sphericalfaces forming ports, plungers in said cylinllO ders, eccentricallymounted guide rings Stroke being in communication with the against whichsaid plnngers re-ac-t when cylinders of the other block which are atreciprocating relative to said cylinders, the saine time oncomplementary phases of 10 means for admitting an actuatingmedium theoutward stroke.

to the cylinders of one block and disoharg- In testimony whereof I havehereuntoset ing it from the cylinders of the other, the my hand.

cylinders of one block when on the inward CLIFFORD HASTY KAIN.

